Hepatic Biochemical Variables Research Articles

Pathological Variables and Laboratory Values in Infants with Neonatal Cholestasis Showing Nonexcretion on Tc-99m Mebrofenin Hepatobiliary Scans: A Descriptive Study.

Cholescintigraphy using Tc-99m Mebrofenin is routinely performed as an initial diagnostic test in infants with neonatal cholestasis suspected of having biliary atresia. Demonstration of drainage of bile into the small intestine indicates patency of the biliary tract and thus rules out biliary atresia. Non-excretion of tracer into the small intestine, however, can be caused by obstructive as well as non-obstructive conditions, and it is known that false-positive findings are found with the use of Tc-99m Mebrofenin scintigraphy. In the present study, we retrospectively calculated the proportion of infants eventually diagnosed to have biliary atresia that were initially ruled to have a non-excreting cholescintigraphy pattern in our institution. We have also attempted a systematic description of the cardinal histological characteristics, haematological and hepatic biochemical variables in infants with non-excreting patterns. This retrospective, descriptive study was conducted in Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry. We reviewed data from infants who underwent cholescintigraphy with Tc-99m Mebrofenin between January 2016 through June 2022. We included infants in whom the scan was ruled "non-excreting" i.e. those infants in whom biliary atresia could not be ruled out based on the results of the scan. The difference in mean for haematological parameters and ALP were compared between the two groups i.e., biliary atresia versus other than biliary atresia by using Independent student's t-test; the remaining liver biochemical parameters were compared by using Mann-Whitney U Test and a p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. A non-excretory pattern on cholescintigraphy was found to be due to biliary atresia in 49% of cases (as confirmed by exploratory surgery) and an additional 19.6 % of cases by trucut biopsy (total 68.6%). The difference in the mean serum GGT levels was found to be statistically significant (<0.001). A non-draining pattern on cholescintigraphy is caused by biliary atresia in the greater percentage of cases presenting with cholestasis. The difference in mean GGT levels was found to be statistically significant between biliary atresia and other causes of non-draining patterns on cholescintigraphy.

Co-administration of zinc and n-acetylcysteine prevents arsenic-induced tissue oxidative stress in male rats

Arsenic is a widespread environmental toxicant that may cause neuropathy, skin lesions, vascular lesions and cancer upon prolonged exposure. Improving nourishment like supplementation of micronutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids could be able to halve the risk in those who were previously the poor nourished. The present study was planned to investigate the preventive effects of zinc and n-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation either alone or in combination with arsenic on selected biochemical variables indicative of oxidative stress and liver injury in male rats. For 3 weeks 25 male wistar rats were exposed to arsenic as sodium arsenite (2 mg/kg, orally through gastric intubation) either alone or in combination with NAC (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), zinc (5 mg/kg, orally) or zinc plus NAC. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last dosing for various biochemical parameters. Concomitant administration of zinc with arsenic showed remarkable protection against blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity as well as providing protection to hepatic biochemical variables indicative of oxidative stress (like thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, catalase) and tissue injury. NAC supplementation on the other hand, was moderately effective in protecting animals from the toxic effects of arsenic. Interestingly, concomitant administration of zinc and NAC was most effective compared to zinc or NAC in eliciting above-mentioned protective effects. The above results suggest significant protective value of combined zinc and NAC administration in acute arsenic exposure.

Effect ofCentella asiatica on arsenic induced oxidative stress and metal distribution in rats

Concomitant oral supplementation of Centella asiatica (100, 200 or 300 mg kg(-1), orally once daily) during arsenic exposure (20 ppm in drinking water for 4 weeks) was investigated in rats for its protective value. The animals exposed to arsenic (III) showed a significant inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, a marginal decrease in glutathione (GSH) and an increase in zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) level in blood. Hepatic and renal glutathione (GSH) decreased, while oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels increased significantly in the liver, kidney and brain. The activities of brain superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase decreased marginally on arsenic exposure. Concomitant administration of Centella asiatica showed a significant protective action on inhibited blood ALAD activity and restored the blood GSH level, whereas most of the other blood biochemical parameters remained unchanged on Centella asiatica supplementation. Interestingly, most of the hepatic biochemical variables indicative of oxidative stress showed protection. There was, however, a significant protection observed in the altered kidney GSSG level and hepatic and brain TBARS. Only a marginal beneficial effect of Centella asiatica on blood and liver arsenic concentration was noted, particularly at the highest dose studies (300 mg kg(-1)). No effect of Centella asiatica on most of the altered renal biochemical parameters was noted. The results thus lead to the conclusion that simultaneous supplementation of Centella asiatica significantly protects against arsenic-induced oxidative stress but does not influence the arsenic concentration in these organs. It can thus be suggested that co-administration of Centella asiatica protects animals from arsenic-induced oxidative stress but exhibits no chelating property. Further studies are recommended for determining the effect of co-administration of Centella asiatica during chelation therapy with a thiol chelator.

Protective value of Aloe vera against some toxic effects of arsenic in rats

Concomitant oral supplementation of Aloe vera, (1, 2 or 5% w[sol ]v in drinking water) during arsenic exposure (0.2 mg[sol ]kg, intraperitoneally, once daily for 3 weeks) was investigated in rats for its protective value. Animals exposed to arsenic (III) showed a significant inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, a marginal decrease in glutathione (GSH) and an increase in zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) level in blood. White blood corpuscles (WBC) level decreased while most of the other clinical blood parameters like red blood cells count, haemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC ratio and platelet number, etc. remained unaltered on arsenic exposure. Hepatic reduced GSH, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level remained unaltered, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level increased significantly while the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and catalase decreased on arsenic exposure. Renal GSH contents decreased while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased significantly on arsenic exposure. Concomitant administration of Aloe vera had remarkable protective action on inhibited blood ALAD activity and restored blood GSH level while most of the other blood biochemical parameters remained unchanged on Aloe vera supplementation. Interestingly, most of hepatic biochemical variables indicative of oxidative stress showed protection; no effect of Aloe vera on blood and liver arsenic concentration was noted. Also, no effect of Aloe vera on most of the altered renal biochemical parameters were noticed. The results thus lead us to conclude that simultaneous supplementation of Aloe vera protects against arsenic induced oxidative stress but does not influence the arsenic concentration in these organs.

Prediction of liver fibrosis in patients with features of the metabolic syndrome regardless of alcohol consumption.

The aim of this study was to determine noninvasive predictive factors of significant liver fibrosis in patients with increased serum aminotransferases associated with features of metabolic syndrome (abdominal obesity, systemic hypertension, fasting hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia). One hundred seventy-three patients were prospectively examined, regardless of alcohol consumption. Biometric, metabolic, and hepatic biochemical variables were tested for association with fibrosis assessed on liver biopsy according to the Metavir score system. Significant fibrosis, defined as Metavir scores F2, F3, or F4, was observed in 42 of 173 patients (24%). A logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to construct a simple index predictive of significant fibrosis. None of the patients with serum hyaluronate levels of 35 microg/L or less had significant fibrosis. In patients with serum hyaluronate levels >35 microg/L, no case of fibrosis stage F3 or F4 was found when serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin/transferrin ratio was less than 0.9. In conclusion, in patients with increased serum aminotransferases associated with features of metabolic syndrome, a simple algorithm, including serum hyaluronate and serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin/transferrin ratio, allows the exclusion of clinically relevant hepatic fibrosis, regardless of current or past alcohol consumption.

Serum hepatic biochemical activity in two populations of workers exposed to styrene

OBJECTIVETo determine whether hepatic biochemical changes, as measured by routinely available tests indicative of hepatocellular necrosis, cholestasis, or altered hepatic clearance of bilirubin, occur in association with low to moderate...

Alterations in some hepatic biochemical variables following repeated gallium arsenide administration in rats

Gallium arsenide (GaAs), an intermetallic compound with superior semi-conductor properties, is finding extensive application in the electronic industry. Exposure to airborne particles in the GaAs industry may pose potential health hazards to workers. However, very little information is available so far regarding the possible toxic effects of this compound. The present study was planned to investigate the dose-dependent influence of repeated gallium arsenide (GaAs) administration (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg, orally through gastric intubation, 5 days a week for 3 weeks) on some biochemical indices in blood and hepatic tissues. The results indicate a significant dose-dependent inhibition of blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, glutathione and an elevation in zinc protoporphyrin level. Blood haemoglobin level decreased only at the two higher dose levels. The effects of GaAs administration on hepatic biochemical variables indicates only moderate adverse effects on serum glutamic oxaloacetic (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) following exposure at the highest dose (200 mg/kg). GaAs exposure also lead to a significant inhibition of hepatic ALAD activity, an elevation in MDA formation and alkaline phosphatase activity. Most of the above alterations occurred at the 200 mg/kg dose. Dose-dependent increases in blood and hepatic arsenic concentration were also noticed. The results confirm our earlier observation that GaAs had a marked influence on the haematopoietic system while it has only moderate effect on the hepatic organ.